Whom had Eve met on the Raven Rock? Jasper had denied that he was the person: who, then, could it have been? The only other conceivable person was Mr. Coyshe, and Barbara at once dismissed that idea. Eve would never make a mystery of meeting Doctor Squash, as she called him. At last, as evening drew on, Jane arrived. Barbara met her at the door and remonstrated with her. ‘Please, miss, I could not help myself. I found Joseph Woodman last night, and he said he must send for the warders to identify the prisoner. Then, miss, he said I was to wait till he had got the warders and some constables, and when they was ready to come on I might come too, but not before. I slept at my sister’s last night.’ ‘Where are the men now?’ ‘They are about the house—some behind hedges, some in the wood, some on the down.’ Barbara shuddered. ‘Please miss, they have guns. And, miss, I were to come on and tell the master that all was ready, and if he would let them know where the man was they’d trap him.’ ‘There is no man here but Mr. Babb.’ Jane’s face fell. ‘Lawk, miss! If Joseph thought us had been making games of he, I believe he’d never marry me—and after going to a Love Feast with him, too! ‘Twould be serious that, surely.’ ‘Joseph has taken a long time coming.’ ‘Joseph takes things leisurely, miss—’tis his nature. Us have been courting time out o’ mind; and, please, miss, if the man were here, then the master was to give the signal by pulling the alarm-bell. Then the police and warders would close in on the house and take him.’ Barbara was as pale now as when nearly fainting in the morning. This was not the old Barbara with hale cheeks, hearty eyes, and ripe lips, tall and firm, and decided in all her movements. No! This was not at all the old Barbara. ‘Well, Miss Jordan, what is troubling you?’ asked Jasper. ‘The house is surrounded. Men are stationed about it. No one can leave it without being challenged.’ ‘Yes,’ said Barbara quickly. ‘By the Abbot’s Well there runs a path down between laurels, then over a stile into the wood. It is still possible—will you go?’ ‘You do not trust me?’ ‘I wish to—but——’ ‘Will you do one thing more for me?’ She looked timidly at him. ‘Peal the alarm-bell.’ CHAPTER XXXVI. CONFESSIONS. AS the bell clanged Mr. Jordan came out of his door. He had been ordered to remain quiet and take no exercise; but now, leaning on his stick and holding the door jamb, he came forth. ‘What is this?’ he asked, and Jasper put his hand to the rope to arrest the upward cast. ‘Why are you ringing, Barbara? Who told you to do so?’ ‘I bade her ring,’ said Jasper, ‘to call these,’ he pointed to the door. Several constables were visible; foremost came Joseph and a prison warder. ‘Take him!’ cried Mr. Jordan: ‘arrest the fellow. Here he is—he is unarmed.’ ‘What! Mr. Jasper!’ asked Joseph. Among the servants and labourers the young steward was only known as Mr. Jasper. ‘Why, sir, this is—this is—Mr. Jasper!’